Qualcomm establishes IC design and engineering R&D center in Singapore

SINGAPORE: Qualcomm Inc. announced plans to establish an Integrated Circuit (IC) Design and Engineering R&D center in Singapore. Qualcomm also will manage certain strategic business planning and development, sourcing, procurement and distribution, as well as other marketing and administrative functions, from Singapore for Qualcomm CDMA Technologies, the Company's chipset division.

The new IC Design and Engineering R&D operations will focus on chipset design and development – including analog and power design; mixed signal design; digital design; mask layout design; and pre and post silicon verification.

"We are delighted to expand our Singapore operations by establishing a world-class IC Design and Engineering R&D facility. This facility will deliver powerful and innovative chipset designs that will continue to improve the mobile experience for consumers," said Jim Lederer, executive VP and GM for Qualcomm CDMA Technologies.

Teo Ser Luck, Minister of State for Trade and Industry, added: "Electronics is one of the largest industries in Singapore. We are excited that Qualcomm, the world's largest fabless semiconductor company, is setting up an IC Design & Engineering R&D Centre in Singapore, further establishing Singapore as an international hub for its chipset business. This is a significant addition to our electronics semiconductor ecosystem. It affirms Singapore as the choice location in Asia for companies to drive global operational efficiency and conduct R&D."

The new IC Design and Engineering R&D center aims to tap into local Singapore and regional talent to develop a wide range of hardware and software-related design support solutions, as well as augment Qualcomm's existing product test center in Singapore.

"Singapore is an important strategic hub for the Asia Pacific region and among the most vibrant and highest growth areas for the wireless and semiconductor industries in the world," said John Stefanac, VP of Qualcomm and president of Qualcomm Southeast Asia and Pacific. "The expansion of our presence in Singapore demonstrates Qualcomm's deepened commitment to the Asia Pacific region and builds on more than a decade of successful operations here."

Singapore has held a strategic importance to Qualcomm since 2000 when the Company set up its chipset distribution center in the country. In 2008, Qualcomm established its first test development center outside of the United States, enabling Singapore to become Qualcomm's development hub for the Asia Pacific region.